Goldie Eisenbraun

Goldie Eisenbraun, age 98, Rapid City, S.D., formerly of Creighton, died Thursday, July 27, 2017, at the Clarkson Mt. View Healthcare Center in Rapid City.

 

On March 8, 1919, in Yale, a baby girl with golden hair was born to Rev. Albert and Emilie (Hirsch) Kraft, their seventh child in a family of nine. She was named Goldie Lona Viola and was baptized by her father on March 30, 1919, into the Christian faith. 

 

When Goldie was four years old, her mother died following surgery in 1923. The family was then cared for by the oldest sister, 15-year-old Frieda, as well as their father, for four years. The sad years were left behind when Albert Kraft was united in marriage to Hulda (Schwarz) Kroenke in 1927. This stepmother provided boundless energy for her large household, and two baby sisters were added to the family. The close-knit Kraft family moved from parish to parish, making friends wherever they went. While living in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church parsonage near rural Quinn, Goldie reaffirmed her faith and was confirmed by her father, Sept. 27, 1931, along with 11 other young people.

 

Goldie attended Delmont Lutheran Parochial School, as well as the Rickard and Geigle country schools in rural Pennington County until eighth grade. She gained hands-on education by babysitting and housekeeping for busy farm and town families, followed by clerking at the Huether Store in Conata. She also worked at the Miller Hotel and Babcock’s Store in Wall.

 

Goldie was united in marriage to Edmond Eisenbraun April 11, 1937, in a ceremony presided over by her father, at a Sunday morning service at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Goldie wore a gold, satin wedding gown made by her stepmother. This unique gown was modeled by a great-granddaughter on Goldie and Edmond’s 70th wedding anniversary.

 

Goldie enjoyed being a farm/ranch wife and mother near Creighton and they welcomed friends and family into their home for meals and visiting. They lived on their farm for 30 years before selling it to their son, Ed, and his wife, Linda, in 1967. 

 

Goldie was a writer, doing a local news column for Wall’s Pennington County Courant, lead the Jolly Girls 4-H Club, sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, and belonged to the Lutheran Laity League as well as the Creighton Bees Extension Club. Goldie was the postmaster for Creighton for 23 years, where she and Edmond made their home in the historical Creighton Store from 1967 until their move to Rapid City in 2003.

 

Goldie’s family remembers her singing around the house while cooking and cleaning, and playing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and other hymns (by ear) on the piano. She had a keen sense of humor and enjoyed recalling stories about her life, especially those with happy outcomes. The grandchildren and great-grandchildren spent many happy hours playing at Grandma’s house. Her favorite Bible verse, presented to her on her confirmation day, was often quoted over the years: “Be content with such things as ye have, for He hath said, ‘I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee’.” Hebrews 13:5.

 

Survivors include one son, Ed, and his wife, Linda, Rapid City; two daughters, Paula Eisenbraun, Rapid City, and Karel Reiman, Midland; a special nephew, Paul Goldhammer, Wall; nine grandchildren, Darcey Eisenbraun, Rapid City, Anne (Maynard) Moege, Mitchell, Brian (Lisa) Eisenbraun, Belton, S.C., Steven Reiman, Mandan, N.D., Connie Gibney, Dublin, Ireland, Katherine (Darron) Nelson, Minnetonka, Minn., Clay (Melissa) Eisenbraun, Merrill, Iowa, Mark Reiman, Kadoka, and Tawney Eisenbraun, Arvada Colo.; 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Gertrude Ring; and one sister-in-law, Marilyn Drewitz; and a host of other relatives and friends.

 

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edmond; son-in-law, Lloyd Reiman; four brothers, Albert, Walter, Emil and Alton Kraft; and five sisters, Frieda Goldhammer, Anna Sieler, Paula Fauske, Esther Wilkerson and Margaret Bousfield.

 

Services were held Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017, at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Creighton.

 

Interment was at the Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery in Creighton.

 

Memorials have been established to Lutheran Hour Ministries and to Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Creighton.

 

Arrangements were with Rush Funeral Home of Wall.